Bentley Continental GT Supersports: 666 hp twin-turbo V8, no hybridisation and rear-wheel drive

The first time Bentley used the Supersports name on one of its models was in 1925, 100 years ago, with the launch of just 18 units of the first Bentley capable of exceeding 160 km/h, which was a real achievement for the era. That name was not used again until 2009 with the first generation of the Continental GT, a model that could reach 328 km/h and, later, again in 2017, the Continental GT Supersports returned to the spotlight with its twin-turbo W12 engine and 710 hp, of which only 710 units were built.

Eight years after the last Supersports, the English brand has decided to bring the name back on a Continental GT to give us an authentic beast of the road that, although it may seem like a fantasy given the world we currently live in, Bentley forgoes the latest modern features and gadgetry to put on the road a car with a traditional engine, with no electrification whatsoever and in a V8 configuration. Yes, it is true, it will not be as wild as its predecessor, but as things stand it is a tremendous achievement that brands like Bentley still believe in it to some extent.

Taking the latest-generation Bentley Continental GT, which was presented last summer, as a reference, the English brand puts on the table a totally radical model when compared with its base version. The Continental GT Supersports features a pure internal combustion unit, a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 that receives a more robust sump, improved cylinder heads and larger turbochargers, resulting in a power output of 666 hp and a maximum torque of 800 Nm sent to the rear axle through the ZF dual-clutch eight-speed gearbox that Bentley usually fits, but with reinforced clutches and a new shift strategy.

The new Continental GT Supersports, pending official homologated figures, according to Bentley will have an impressive acceleration of 3.7 seconds to reach 100 km/h and will reach a top speed of around 310 km/h. But more important than these figures will be its dynamic behaviour, as they say, and the first Continental GT with rear-wheel drive also uses an electronic limited-slip differential (eLSD) complemented by torque vectoring by braking which, together with a track 16 mm wider than the base model, makes corner entry as precise as possible with maximum traction.

In this sense the ESC will allow you to select how much assistance you want: from everything switched on, through a Dynamic Mode that allows a certain level of slip and oversteer within limits, to fully switched off. It is worth noting that the Drive Dynamics controller has three new configurations, namely:

• Touring: it would be like driving a Continental GT Speed in Sport mode but combined with a higher gear ratio, softer damping and a more discreet exhaust sound.
• Bentley: one step above the previous one, optimising the gearbox strategy, throttle response and chassis setup. In addition, the exhaust line valves open for a throatier sound and launch control is activated.
• Sport: maximum optimisation for the connection with the driver, tuned to obtain the maximum response from the chassis and transmission.

Still without leaving the dynamic aspect aside, the Bentley Continental GT Supersports uses an aluminium double-wishbone front suspension with a multi-link rear axle, air springs and new twin-chamber dampers, which are controlled by the ECU independently in both compression and extension. A little more visible is the largest braking system in the world for cars, consisting of 440 mm carbon-silicon-carbide discs on the front axle and 10-piston calipers, while on the rear axle there are 410 mm discs with four-piston calipers. Alongside these are the forged and machined 22-inch aluminium alloy wheels signed by Manthey Racing and available in two finishes, and fitted as standard with Pirelli P-Zero tyres.

But the changes the Bentley Continental GT Supersports receives compared with the base model are not just making it powerful and fast but also lighter, as it is almost half a tonne lighter than the Continental GT, so the scales read less than 2,000 kg. This is achieved by eliminating all the electrified parts fitted to its plug-in hybrid version and, in addition to all-wheel drive, leaving only rear-wheel drive, but also by replacing the aluminium roof with a carbon-fibre panel. Along the same lines, inside, the rear seats have been removed and the acoustic insulation has been reduced in the area where those seats would go, and the audio system has been reconfigured for the front seats only, eliminating certain driver assistance systems that are considered unnecessary for a GT intended for purer driving.

Aesthetically the Bentley Continental GT Supersports will attract attention; seeing it is undoubtedly a spectacle. At the front it incorporates a new bumper with larger air intakes that help cool the brakes and engine, plus greater width that reinforces its sporty character, to which a splitter at the bottom has been added, working together with the overlapping deflectors located at the ends. Both the front grille and the rest of the bumper grilles use a new lightweight mesh with an exclusive design, laser-cut from high-quality aluminium.

If we now look at the side, we see new B-shaped deflectors positioned just behind the front wheel arch at the lower part, framing the new side skirts, which manage the airflow coming from the arches themselves, thus facilitating the extraction of high-pressure air and the flow along the side of the bodywork. Now, if we look at the rear, we see that the new bumper integrates a beautiful rear diffuser that houses the exhaust outlets and, a little higher up, there is a fixed one-piece rear spoiler. It is worth noting that all these parts generate more than 300 kg of additional aerodynamic downforce compared with a Continental GT Speed.

In the interior of the Continental GT Supersports, Bentley has been tasked with redefining the concept of luxury focused on performance. To this end, lightweight sports seats have been installed, characterised by offering greater lateral support, seating the occupants lower, featuring carbon inserts at shoulder height and 11-way electric adjustment, plus integrated heating. In place of the rear seats there is now a carbon-fibre monocoque structure, finished in leather to match the rest of the cabin, which receives lightweight, high-gloss carbon-fibre trim combined with a blend of leather and Dinamica. Finally, Supersports embroidery and emblems have been added, accompanied by a numbered plaque on the centre console.

Fortunately for us and for its fortunate owners, the Bentley Continental GT Supersports will be sold in Europe as well as other countries such as the United States, Canada, Australia or the United Arab Emirates, among others; with an order book that will open in March and production that will begin in the fourth quarter of 2026, while first deliveries are scheduled for early 2027. And attention potential buyers, because only 500 units will be built, so exclusivity is guaranteed with this model.